Crown block



f- 5, 1931. H. F. WICKERSHAM 1,825,109

CROWN BLOCK Filed June ll. 1929 k WM Patented Oct. 6', 14931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY P. WICKERSHAM, F VJALNUT ARK, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 BAASI-I-ROSS TOOL COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA CROWN BLOCK Application led Tune 11,

This invention has to do with a crown block, and it is an object of the invention to provide a crown block for use on a derick, such as a well derrick, or the like, that is simple, practical and of improved construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction for a crown block whereby the sheave carrying bearings are shiitable or adjustable in two directions and can be set or secured iirmly for operation.

It is Vanother object of the invention to provide a bearing mounting for a crown block that is effective in supporting a number of shafts so that they are always in the proper relation to one another and are shittable or adjustable as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and improved frame construction for a crown block.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover for a crown block for a well drilling rig. rFhe cover construction provided by the invention protects or shieldsy the sheaves and is easily operated to allow access to the sheaves when necessary.

It is another obj ect of the invention to provide a sectional crown block in which the sections are supported independently from the derrick and are connected so that they cannot become independently displaced from the derrick.

The various' objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully underi stood from the following detailed description of a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe crown block provided by this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the crown block showing the sheave cover in the down position. Fig. 3 is an end view of the upper portion of the crown block showing the sheave cover in the up or open position. Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an 1929. Serial No. 370,111.

enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 on Fig. 3.

The crown block provided by this invention is designed primarily for use in the derrick of a well drilling rig. In the drawings I have shown the crown block mounted on the rectangular frame or head 10 at the top of a typical form of well derrick 11.

The device provided by this invention is intended to be mounted directly on the head 10 of the derrick, and includes, generally, two sheave supporting sections A and B. The section A, which may be termed the lower section, is adapted to be carried on two opposite side members of the head 10, while the section B, which l will term the upper section, is intended to be mounted on the other two side members of the head 10. The section B extends transversely over or straddles the lower section A.

rlhe lower section A includes, generally, a trame 12 which rests directly upon the head 10, a plurality of sheaves 13, and bearings 14 mounting the sheaves on the frame. The

frame 12 is preferably formed of a plurality of spa-ced beams 15 extending between opposite side members of the head 10. The beams 15 are connected together by spacer blocks 16 which secure the ends of the beams together to form a rigid frame construction. The bearings 14 are mounted on the tops of beams and are arranged so that they support the sheaves 13 in vertical positions between the beams 15, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. to the beams 15 by means of clamps 16a and studs 17 which extend from the clamps to the bearings. The clamps 16 engage the under sides of the top ianges of the beams 15. Vhen the nuts 18 on the studs 17, which engage the caps 19 of the bearings 14, are tightened, the clamps 16 are drawn upwardly and the caps 19 are held in place on the bearings. With this arrangement the bearings 14 may be loosened and then shifted or adjusted along the tops of the beams 15 to locate the sheaves as desired. It is to be understood that the shea-ves 13 may be of any desired diameter and width and that the spacing of the beams 15 may be related to the The bearings 14- are connected fill width of the sheaves 13 so that proper clearance is allowed between the beams and the sheaves.

The upper section B ot the crown block includes, generally, base members 2l adapted to rest on the head lO ot the derrick, blocks 22 adjustably supported on the base members, beams 28 extending` transversely between the blocks, bearing units 2li shittably supported on the beams, a shat't 25 carried by bearings ot the units 2l to e. .zend transversely between the beams, a plurality of sheaves 26 carried on the shaft, spacer plates 2T between the sheaves, supporting rods 28 tor the spacer plates carried by the bearing units 2li, and a cover SO tor the sheaves.

rPhe base members 2l are in the to m or" I beams and are adapted toy be mounted on opposite side members ot the head l0. The side members which support Jdie base members 2l extend between the side, members ot he bead 'l0 that support the beams Yi2 ot the section A... The base members Qi are arranged with their lower tlan s extendinglongitudinally on the side pai ls ot the head it).Y The base members are parallel to the beams l2 ot the section The blocks 22 ot the section B are mounted on the base members 2l to be adjusted or shi'lledr longitudinally ot the base members 2l. rThe blocks 22 are preterably formed of I beamsand are arranged on the upper itlanges 3l ot' the base menibers, The lower flanges 532 oit the. blocks 22 rest direct y on the upper {lang-es 3l ot the base members. Each block iionnected to a base member 2l by pairs ot clan'ips In the preferred torni oiI the invention the two clamps oit each pair are arranged at. opposite des et the block and each clamp has an upper end part engaging'- the web Q2 ot the block Q2 and a lower jaw portion 39 receivingl the abuttingi flanges 31 and 3Q ojt the base 2l and block 92, respectively. A belt .f3-l is arranged in connection with each pair ot clamps to ext-end through an opening` 35 in the block 2Q, and through openings in the clamps. A nut 38 is threaded on the end et the bolt to clamp the clamp-s onto the web 22 and. the flanges 3l and The jaw portion o't each clamp 39 is formed so that it wedges onto the flanges and clamps them tightlyl together. lWith the blocks and the base members connected `in this manner, the nuts 3S can be loosened, allowing' the sheaves 2G to be adjusted along the base members 2l. liihen the nuts 3S are made tight, the blocks 22am securely and rigidly connected to the base members 2l.

.ln the preferred form ot the invention, means is provided for shifting` the block members 22 on the base members when the nuts 38 are loose. ln the drawings l have illustrated the blocks as beine` somewhat shorter than the base members 2l, and have shown adjustingl screws flO threaded through brackets il lixed on upper laces of the llanges 3l. rhe screws et() engage the ends ot the blocks 22.

An adjusting screw 4t) is provided at each end ot each base member 2l so that the blocks 22 can be urged in either direction and can be set in the desired position longitudinally ot the base members as well as being set by tightening the clamps The bean'is Q3 ot the section B extend transversely between the blocks 22 and extend t'ra1r-11vei'sely ot and are above the beams l2 of the section A. The base men'ibers 2l and the block men'ibers elevate the beams 2? a substantial distance above the beams l2. The beams 223 are preferably I beams and may. be simported from the blocks by brackets 4Q. rlhe brackets 4Q have vertical flanges 4Q that areeonnected to the webs 22 oit the blocks 2Q by bolts l2. il. horizontal flange 4t2 extends along;l the upper edge ot each bracket The flanges 42C engage the undersides ot the lower tlanges ot the bean'is 23 and may be connected to the beams by bolts 48a. A bracket l2 may be provided at each end el" each beam The distancebetween the shaft of section il and the lower edges ot thel beams 23 may be changed or varied by usingdillerent d lr'arffkets il-2. ly replacing` the brackets wi n br; ckcts that support the beams Q3 so tney are elevated to positions substantial im Ur).

nar distances above the blocks Q2, larger sheaves may he used in the lower section A. lVith the arrangrenient just described it is possible to use various sized sheaves in the section )i without materially altering` the construction ot the crown block and` without raising; or lo 'eri e' the entire section B. Find plates 43 are provided to space the beams Qlapart and lend rigidity to the structure.

The bearing;q units 24, which carry the shaft Q and the rods QS, are arranged opposite each other on the beams 253 ane are mounted so that they are adjustable longitudinally oit the beams. The bearing` units 24 carry die shaft and the rods Q8 so that they are disposed above the section A in parallelism with the beams l2 of the section A. In accordance with my invention, there is but one bearing unit 24 on each beam 2?. The bearing unit-s 24 carry 'the shatt and the rods so that the shait 25 is located between the rods 28, the rods being beyond the sheaves carried by the shaft.

Each bearing` unit 24 consists ot a base portion its restingdirectly on the beam Q23, three spaced bosses l5 on the base, and webs i6 joining the base and extendingr between the bosses. The base fili is tlat and adapted to be secured to the top of a beam 23. In the form ot the invention illustrated the bosses are spaced on the base so that there is a boss at each end ot the base to receive a rod 28 and a boss at the middle ot the base to receive Een the shaft 25. Openings are provided in the bosses to vcarry the shaft or rods. Each bearing unit 24 is mounted so that it is shiftable longitudinally on its supporting beam 23.` In the case illustrated longitudinal slots are provided in the base 44 and bolts 51 extend through the slots and through the top flange 54 of the beam 23. Clamping nuts 51a are screw threaded on the bolts 51 to clamp or set the base 44 on the beam. The invention provides means for adjusting the bearing units longitudinally of the beams when the nuts 51a are released. In the case illustrated the bearing units are shorter than the beams and adjusting screws are carried by brackets 61 to engage the ends of the units. The brackets 61 are attached to the top flanges of the beamsand the screws are threaded through the brackets. There is an adjusting screw at each end of each beam or unit. The sheaves 26 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 and are spaced apart by the spacer plates 27. lThe plates 27 act to support the shaft between the sheaves, the plates being carried by the rods 28 supported by the bearing units. The plates 27 are arranged vertically and project horizontally in each direction beyond the sheaves. The end portions of the plates beyond the sheaves are carried by the rods 28. rIhe plates 27 extend upwardly and inwardly from the points of connection with'the rods 28 to a point above. the sheaves, and have their upper portions connected and braced by a bolt 55 which extends over the sheaves. Spacing washers 66 are provided on the rods 28 to hold the plates 27 in spaced relation and spacing sleeves may be provided on the bolt 55 between the plates. Nuts 26a on the ends of the rods outside of the bearing units hold the parts assembled. A similar nut 28b is provided on the shaft 25. The cover 30 is mounted on the plates 27 to extend over and protect the sheaves 26. In the preferred form of the invention the cover is pivotally connected to the end portions of the plates 27. The cover 30 is formed to have the configuration of the top or upper portions of the plates 27, that is, it has two main parts 7 Oa extending outwardly and downwardly from the tops of the plates to their end portions and which extend across the assembly from one end plate to the other. The cover is attached to the plates by two pivot bolts 70, one extending transversely through the plates 27 at each end of the cover. By removing one of the pivot bolts 70, the cover may be pivoted on the other bolt to a position as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In

this manner the cover 30 may be swung to either side of the construction as desired. The cover 30 is provided at its side edges with side parts or flanges 71 which extend downwardly to overhang the two end plates 27 i In the particular case illustrated the pivotI bolts Vextend throughthe flanges 71 as the sections cannot become accidentally separated. It is preferred that this connection be such that it does not interfere with the independent mounting or support of the sections directly on the head of the derrick.

I may provide a rod 8O between the base members 21 to extend through openings in the webs of the beams 12. The rod is preferably located near one end of the section B at a point where it will not interfere `with the lines carried by the block. The openings in the webs of beams 12 may be large enough to reely pass the rod so that there is no direct connection between the two sections of the block. A

In using the crown block provided by this invention it is possible to adjust the sheaves to various positions through the adjustable connection between the base members 21, and the block members 22 and the adjustability of the bearing units 24. IVhen the sheaves are in the desired positions the various parts may be set, making the structure ready for use. It will be obvious that the sections A and B can be removed and handled independently of each other, it being possible to move either of the sections independently of the other when the rod S0 is removed. Vhen the block is in use the rod connects the sections so that they cannot be accidentally separated, for instance, so that the lower section is not freed from the derrick if the traveling block runs into the lower section and lifts it from the derrick parts which normally support it.

Having described only a typical, preferred form of the invention, I do not wish to 'limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A crown block including, spaced base members to be mounted directly on a derrick, blocks adjustably supported on ,the base members, spaced beams extending between the blocks, sheaves, a shaft supporting the sheaves, spacer plates between the sheaves, a rod supporting the spacer plates, and unitary members on the beams supporting the shaft and rod.

2. A crown block including, beams to be mounted on a derrick, sheaves, rods, a shaft supporting the sheaves, and unitary members on the beams supporting theshaft and rods.

3. A crown block including, beams to be mounted on a derrick, sheaves,a shaft supportingthe sheaves, a rod, plates engaging the rod and shaft, and unitary members on the beams supporting the shaft and rod.

4. A crown block including, beams to be Lio mountedf on a derriCksheaVeS, a: shaft supporting the sheaves, a rod-,.unitary memberson the beams supportingethe-shaft: androd, andlneans-for attaching themembers to the beams.-

5'. A crown bloelt including, spaced, base members to bemountedon a. derrick, blocks adj ustably supported on. they basemembers, clamp; means connecting thebase members and the blocks, beams supported ony the blocks,- a: shaft supported bythe beams, and a ports, a shaftcarriedfbythe supports, azplufk rality of sheaves on theshaft', spacer plates between-thesheaves, a cover for; thesheaves, and two spaced; releasable pivotal connections between thecover and the plates.

9:. In a crownblock, two sections for independent mounting,rv on a derrich, sheaves supported on each of thesections, andfmeans connecting the sections against separation.

1D. A crown block including, two sheave supporting sections forv independent mountinglon a.derriek,.andia rodiconnecting the sections against separation.

11i A crown blockA including, two'sheave supporting'- sections forv independent' mounting on a derricl, and a connection between the sections holding them against separation.

12.` A. crown bloclincluding spaced base members to be mountedldirectly on a derrick, bloeksadjustably supportedon the base members, beams extending between the-blocls, sheaves,v a shaft' supporting the sheaves, spacer4 platesbetween-the sheaves, afrod engaging the spacer: plates, unitary members adjustable on the beams and supporting the sha-ftandaod, and'screw means `for adjusting the members.

13; Aa crownv block including spaced' supports, a;shaft, sheaves on the shaft, a rod spaced from the shaft, sp acer plates Abetween the sheaves carried by the shaft and rod, a single bea-ringen each support carrying-an endfof" the shaft and an-end of the rod, and means .whereby thebearings `may be adjusted on the supports.

14; A. crown block including: spaced supports, ashaft-sheavesonthe shaft, a rod spacedzfrolnithe shaft, spacer. plates between thesheavescarriedby the shaft: and rod, a single bearing on f each supportl carrying 'an endlofthe shaft. andan endfof thevrod, and

means whereby the bearingsmay be adjusted on the supports, said means including-.bolts projectingfrom the supports andpextending through slots inthe bearings, and clamping nuts'on the-bolts for engaging'the bearings.

1'5'. A crown block including'spaced. base members `adaptedt'o .be mounted on ay derrick, blocks on the base members, releasable clamp means securing` thevblocks tothebase-memY bers, means for adjusting-the blocks in one direction when the clampmeans is released, beams extending. betweenthe blocks, .bearings on the beams, ashaft carried by the bearings, a sheave on the shaft, .releasable clamp means securing the bearings to the beams, and means for adj listing-the bearingsfin-the otherl direction upon the last-mentioned clamp means .being released.

1G;I A crownblock. including, spaced.` supports, ashaft: carried by th e supports, ,sheaves on the shaft, spacer plates between the shafts andextending upwardly beyond the peripheries of the sheaves, and a. cover over the sheaves and spacer. plates.

In witness that I claim. the foregoing'v I. have hereunto subscribed my. name thislth day of May, 1929.

HARRY I). IVICKERSHAM. 

